Us Official Photographs

P-47 Thunderbolt in Belgium

Belgium - Ruefully examining part of the flak damage to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber "I'll Get By" is S/Sgt. Robert Rakow, Jr., 2116 S. 12th St., Sheboygan, Wis., while Pfc. Charles R. Eck, 511 Arlington Ave., Baltimore, Md., armorer, repairs damage to bomb rack. Lt. Col. Leo C. Moon, Kamiah, Idaho, of the 9th AF, attacked two railroad trains he found while on a weather check 20 miles southeast of Coblenz. The second one happened to have a flak car defending it. Damage included four holes in the underside of the fuselage, knockout of the hydraulic system, and of vital instruments governed by the pilot tube, at which Crew Chief Rakow gazes as it dangles from the wing. Moon, a veteran of more than 110 combat missions, landed safely at his home base. It was the eighth time he had been hit by flak.